Log book entries:

 

06.05.1893

25 miles W 1 N from the Smalls

Eccentric link of the steam winch carried away.  Invisible flaw in the links.

    C. Ballard (Skipper)

 

17.11.1893

Carrying away of tow rope, trawl nets, mizzen damaged.  Parting of tow rope whilst towing steam ship "Helvetia" in distress.

    Henry John Dove (Skipper)

 

[ HELVETIA, Liverpool; 131 grt, 78 nt; Iron schooner; built 1892, R. Smith & Co., Lytham; owners: Monks, Hall & Co. ]

 

26.10.1900

Fined G. Warford the sum of 5/- for leaving the ship without permission.

Approved the amount appropriated by owner for expenses incurred by the ship losing the tide.

    J. W. Crocker, M.M. Office Supt., 26th October 1900

 

14.05.1901

Bay of Biscay

C. Warnell, age 20, deck hand; British, born Brixham, residing Warwick Road, Milford Haven.

Slipped while guiding a warp with a bar of iron onto the barrel of the winch.  The bar slipped striking Warnell on the shoulder fracturing his collar bone.

    T. J. Wales (Skipper)

    C. Miller (Chief Engineer)

 

16.10.1904

W Coast of Ireland

Loss of mizzen mast head.  Very heavy weather at the Blaskets

    T. J. Wales (Skipper)

 

19.02.1907

18 miles N by E from Hook Lighthouse.

Rudder head carried away.  Heavy sea struck vessel whilst lying to.

    Henry Scott (Skipper)

 

19.01.1908

11.30 a.m., 11 miles W by S of St Ann's Head

Wind WSW, slight breeze, weather fine, sea smooth.

We found vessel making water in engine room from under cabin.  We found on the starboard side of tail shaft.  Put plug in same, and with pumps kept water under.  Docked same evening at 4.30 p.m.

    W. Hall (Skipper)

 

17.09.1908

On 17th September 1908, vessel was making for dock entrance when the steam trawler 'Cambria', in trying to cut us out, collided with us starting the beading on port quarter.

    Francis Smith (Skipper)

 

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From The Standard of Saturday May 28, 1892; pg. 3; Issue 21184:

 

...

Triton (steam trawler) has arrived at Greenock with her fore peak full of water, having been ashore on the Mull of Cantyre [sic] during heavy fog on Thursday morning.

 

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From the Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 4th April, 1894:

 

    Captain Dove, of the steam trawler "Triton", had a narrow escape from serious injury or perhaps instant death on Monday.  The steam winch of the trawler had been repaired, and the Skipper was making an examination, when his coat became entangled in the powerful cog wheel.  Had it not been for the fact that his strength was superior to the material of which his coat was made, and that the winch was not in rapid motion, he would have been drawn in, and the consequences may have been deplorable.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Western Mail of Wednesday 22nd August 1894:

COLLISION OFF EDDYSTONE

A WELSH SCHOONER SUNK

NARROW ESCAPES

    On Tuesday morning a collision occurred between the steam trawler Triton, of Milford Haven (Captain Dove), and the schooner City of Bangor (Captain Marks), bound from Teignmouth to Drogheda, with a cargo of bricks.  The City of Bangor left Teignmouth on Saturday morning, and all went well until about half-past past eleven on Tuesday morning, when about twenty miles west of the Eddystone the collision took place.  The schooner's crew, numbering five, jumped aboard the Triton, but Captain Marks, who was below at the time, in trying to jump from his vessel to the trawler, fell overboard.  He was afterwards picked up by the crew of the trawler.  Captain Dove was in his bunk when the collision took place.  The weather was very fine, and there was a good breeze.  The City of Bangor sank in about ten minutes, and the crew did not save any of their effects.    The City of Bangor was 100 tons registered, and was built in 1857 by Mr. J. Roberts, Bangor.

 

From Reynolds's Newspaper of Sunday, August 26, 1894; Issue 2298

 

GENERAL NEWS

    On Tuesday morning the steam trawler Triton, of Milford (Captain Dove), collided with and sank the schooner City of Bangor (Captain Marks), from Teignmouth to Drogheda, with a cargo of bricks.  About twenty-five minutes past eleven the crew of the schooner observed the trawler about half a mile off steaming towards them.  They shouted and rang the bell, but no notice, it is alleged, was taken of them, the result being that the Triton ran down the schooner, causing her to sink in ten minutes.  The accident happened in clear weather, twenty miles south-west of the Eddystone.  The schooner's crew were saved.

 

Log book entry:

21.08.1894

Dodman Point

Collision with "City of Bangor".  Bad lookout.

    B. Foster (Skipper)

[Note the discrepancy between the log book and newspaper reports as to the name of the skipper.]

 

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From the Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 1st April 1896:

 

    A special court was held in Galway on Friday for the purpose of trying the charges of illegal fishing preferred against the masters of two Milford steam trawlers.  These two steam trawlers, named respectively "Triton" and "General Roberts", came over from Milford Haven to Galway Bay during the week, and were arrested by a gunboat while engaged in illegal fishing in these waters. 

    On account of a question asked in Parliament by Mr John Dillon, a gunboat was dispatched to Galway Bay to cope with the illegal trawling there, many complaints having been made by the local fishermen of their boats being nearly run down by steam trawlers during the night, fishing in Galway Bay contrary to the fishing regulations.

    The very first night the gunboat was in Galway Bay the two trawlers belonging to the defendants were seized.  After a lengthened hearing, J. T. Wales, of the trawler "Triton", and John Pettit of the trawler "General Roberts", the defendants, were fined £5 each, and costs for fishing within the prohibited limits, and £25 costs for steaming about and trawling without having their lights up as prescribed by the bye-laws.

 

 

From the Irish Times of Friday , 27th March 1896:

                                                                                                                                             GALWAY, Thursday

At a special Court of Petty Sessions, held today before J.C. Gardiner, Esq., R.M., and Michael Lynch, Esq., J.P., the captains of two steam trawlers, named respectively T.F.[sic] Wales, of the Triton, and John Petit of the General Roberts, were charged with two offences at the suit of the Fishery Commissioners and at the suit of the Board of Trade, first for trawling within prescribed limits on the night of 21st March, and secondly for fishing without lights, as required by statute.  The defendants were detected by Lieutenant Adby, of H.M. gunboat Albacore, by the aid of a searchlight.  They pleaded guilty to both charges, and for the first offence were fined £5 each.  For the second they were fined £25 each, with forfeiture of their nets.  The defendants belong to Milford Haven.

 

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  From the Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 27th May, 1896:

 

    On Tuesday we observed a large cask of wine being landed from the steam trawler "Triton",  and handed over to the Custom Authorities.  The "Triton" picked it up in the Bay of Biscay.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From The South Wales Daily Post of Saturday 8th July 1899:

MILFORD FISHING TRADE AND SWANSEA.

A REPORT DENIED.

The "Milford Haven Telegraph" says it is in a position to emphatically contradict the statement, of Friday, that "the steam trawler 'Triton' left Milford Docks for the last time on Wednesday, having decided henceforth to trade at Swansea." The owners of the "Triton" have never entertained the least idea of abandoning Milford in favour of Swansea.

 

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From The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser of Friday 17th October 1902:

 

MILFORD HAVEN

..................

DEATH OF CAPTAIN WALES.

        We regret to announce the death of Captain T. Wales, senior, late of Milford, which occurred in Swansea Hospital on Thursday last after he had undergone a serious operation to one of his toes, although death is stated to be due to the deadly disease diabetes, from which he had suffered for some time. The news was received at Milford, where Capt. Wales was well known and highly esteemed, with deep regret, and the trawlers in dock hoisted their flags to half mast as a mark of respect. Captain Wales was one of the pioneers of the Milford fishing trade, and he claimed the distinction of being the first man to enter the docks with a steam trawler, which event occurred about the year 1889. For many years he was master and part-owner of the "S.S. Triton," eventually becoming owner, after which he practically retired from the sea, but continued, with his son, to manage the vessel and to take a keen interest in the trade of the port until some months ago, when, consequent upon the development of Swansea as a fishing port, he removed thence, his ship chiefly trading there. Latterly we believe he acted in an important position for the Swansea Trawling Company. The funeral took place on Saturday at St. Thomas' Cemetery, Swansea. The local fish trade was well represented, whilst from Milford Haven, Messrs. C. T. Blethyn, D. D. Roach, J. W. Wilkin, William Jones, and others attended. 

 

[Thomas James Wales, died age 55; born Isle of Thanet, 1847.]

 

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Letter in the Les Jones Archive:

 

                                                                            55, Sea View Terrace,

                                                                    Swansea.

                                                                20th July 1903

To the Superintendent of the Board of Trade.

 

Dear Sir,

 

    Will you kindly accept log book for past six months.  I gave it to the Clerk in charge yesterday, and he refused to accept same, as it was in a bad muddle.  Dear Sir, the steam trawler "Triton" has had three skippers for the past six months, I myself being the third.  I opened log book, and asked Skipper Cladingbone to explain to me about the signing on and off of the crew, and he said he could not understand it as he was a bad scholar, and had never seen a log book before, except signing off and on.  The other skipper, James Gray, I have not seen.

    Hoping you will accept the log book, and I humbly apologise, and it will never occur again.  Hoping you will accept same and oblige.

    Yours truly,

            T. J. Wales,

                                                        Skipper and Owner of the "Triton".

 

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From The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser of Friday 8th September 1905:

 

MILFORD.

SWANSEA TRAWLER FOR MILFORD.— It is reported that the steam trawler Triton, the first to engage in the Swansea fishing trade, has just been sold to a Milford gentleman, the purchase price, according to rumour being £1,700. 

 

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From The Cambrian of Friday 5th October 1906:

FOREIGNERS AFTER OTHER TRAWLERS.

    Foreigners are bidding just now for Swansea trawlers. The Russians are after the Roche Castle, the property of the Castle Trawling Company, and the French, the Triton, belonging to Capt. Wales. The latter boat is a new one and both on Thursday and Friday was tried by its prospective new owners — a Bordeaux fishing firm.

 

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From The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser of Friday 18th December 1908:

 

MILFORD HAVEN.

.............

TRAWLER'S MISHAP. The steam trawler "Triton" arrived in Milford on Wednesday morning minus her rudder. It appears that she encountered a heavy sea during her voyage, and her rudder was torn away by the waves. 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Times, Jan 22, 1910; pg. 12; Issue 39176; col F

     SHIPPING ACCIDENTS.

    A large steam trawler, Triton, owned by a Mr. White, and managed by Messrs. Sellick, Morley and Price (Limited), of Milford Haven, while trawling on Thursday afternoon suddenly sprang a leak which the crew were powerless to overcome and which ultimately resulted in the trawler's foundering about 20 miles S.S.W. of Blackball Head.  The crew were 25 hours in an open boat in mid-ocean.  The second engineer of the trawler arrived at Berehaven yesterday.  He stated that when the leak was discovered the men were put instantly to the pumps, but after working for some hours they found that the leak had grown worse and that no amount of pumping would lessen the amount of water, which, by that time, was breast-deep in the engine room and cabins.  Suddenly the ship began to settle down and Captain Joyce ordered the men to take to the lifeboat.  The half-dressed and almost famished men kept at the oars, pulling for Berehaven in the teeth of a strong north-easterly wind.  On reaching the harbour several of the crew collapsed from exhaustion and were conveyed to River Dart, where restoratives were applied and the men were supplied with warm clothing.

 

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From The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser of Friday 28th January 1910:

 

MILFORD HAVEN.

MILFORD TRAWLER SUNK.

        On Friday last Messrs. Sellick Morley and Price, received information that the steam trawler Triton had sunk while fishing off the West Coast of Ireland, and the crew were saved.  The crew arrived here yesterday morning and stated that they had rowed in open boat for 12½ hours, until they reached Kingston near Cork, Ireland.  They had lost several articles of clothing, etc.  The cause of the foundering is not known.

 

From B.T. and R. Larn (2002):   Shipwreck Index of Ireland 

TRITON        20/01/1910

Co.Cork, Black Ball Head, 10M SSW    51.28.10N 10.14W.

 

Voyage: Milford - Fishing & return

....

Foundered and lost offshore in a gale, her crew saving themselves in their own boat.

 

 

 

 

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